Degen, Estes & Priest, Boston
Degen & Estes, Boston
Degen, Estes & Co., Boston

Initially the Boston based Degen firm was styled as Henry V. Degen in the 1850’s. The latter firm published Forrester’s Boys’ and Girls’ Magazine. A short lived Degen and Stone firm has been noted in 1857-1858. In 1859 the name changed from Henry V. Degen to Henry V. Degen and Son. This imprint was noted until 1862.

Dana Estes (1840-1909) was a native of Gorham, Maine. He joined the Henry V. Degen and Son book publishing firm in 1859.

He left that company in 1861 to fight in the Civil War After incurring injuries at Bull Run, Estes returned to Boston in 1862 and worked initially for the house of William H. Hill & Co. Subsequently, he formed a co-partnership with Degen's son, Henry D. Degen.

In 1862-1863 Degen, Estes and (Thurston) Priest was a short lived company. The Degen now was Henry D. Degen, the son of the original Degen. Thereafter Degen & Estes in 1864 and 1865 and Degen, Estes and Co. in 1865-1866 were active publishers. These firms were also noted as a game publishers.

Estes eventually sold his partnership and went to work with Lee and Shepard. In 1872 he and Charles Lauriat established Estes and Lauriat.

To Summarize:
Henry V. Degen ca.1852-1859
Henry V. Degen and Son 1860-1861
Degen, Estes and Priest 1862-1863
Degen and Estes 1864-1865
Degen, Estes & Co. 1865-1866
Henry D. Degen and Co. Succeeded the Degen, Estes & Co. firm. No information is available about this house.

These firms published a number of series for juveniles. The vast majority of series were published as toy books.